Word Origin & History

c.1300, fede "enmity, hatred, hostility," northern English and Scottish; perhaps from an unrecorded Old English word or else from Old French fede, from Old High German fehida "contention, quarrel, feud," from Proto-Germanic *faihitha noun of state from adj. *faiho- (cf. Old English fæhð "enmity," fah "hostile;" German Fehde "feud;" Old Frisian feithe "enmity;" see foe). Sense of "vendetta" is early 15c. Alteration of spelling in 16c. is unexplained.

Example Sentences forfeud

The Lorilleuxs had declared a feud to the death against Gervaise.

What the feud really was about, they had both nearly forgotten.

The time for Border feud and skirmish was already well-nigh past.

They meet a rancher who loses his heart, and become involved in a feud.

Why, what should he think,—was there any feud between the families?

It is, I hope, unnecessary to say that Godfrey is at feud with the Dean.

The Dean went off, and in spite of the feud did ride over to Manor Cross.

Oh, you do not know how dreadful to be at feud with a man like Fergus Mac-Ivor.

The scout had a feud with that branch of the tribe and was at war with them.